Travel

Celebrity Cruise Weekend

Have you ever been on a cruise? Well, If you or one of your relatives own a timeshare you are eligible for deep discounts on affiliate partner cruises. I purchased a Fairfield timeshare in 1999, which is now owned by Wyndham Resorts, and have never looked back.

The cruise I took sailed from the Port of Miami to the Bahamas. From Friday-Monday everyone on-board felt like celebrities. The ship was huge and gorgeous, so big that I got lost a few times trying to get from the casino back to my room. You would not believe the ammenities. We shopped in the Galleria, ate around the clock (there was always a buffet, even at midnight). On Saturday morning we landed at the Grand Bahama Island and stayed there until Sunday morning. The first place I wanted to visit on the island was Atlantis (http://www.atlantis.com/) . The casinos, shopping and dining in this hotel was accessible to everyone and we literally ate with the fishes. The Fathoms dining room is surrounded on 2 sides by the biggest aquarium you want to see. The view is just breathtaking. I stayed away from the casino and shopping here because I had already lost $50 at the casino on-board and wasn't about to lose anymore. I was able to win $20 back on Sunday with a lucky hand of Carribean Poker. I put it right back in my pocket and didn't gamble again on this trip. As the old saying goes, 'My momma didn't raise no fool'.

Later that day we took a party cruise to see the other nearby islands. There was live Carribean music and free drinks on-board. We landed on a white sand beach where we went snorkeling and then just lied on the beach and talked until our party boat returned to take us back to the Grand Bahama Island.

That night we walked from the cruise ship into town where the streets were lined with vendors of all sorts. The best seafood salad I had ever had at that time came to me during this walk into town. The salad was called 'Conch Salad' and was $2 a cup. I lost count somehow but I think I ate four of them because it was so good. Then I had the taste for some Conch Fritters. We collected our purchases and walked until we found an upscale restaurant on the strip that served it. We asked around and we're told that the place we chose had some of the best Conch Fritters around. We loved them. Writing about it is now making me hungry.

That night it was time to party again. We went back to the ship, changed into our club attire and caught a cab into the the heart of the island nightlife. Unfortunately, we decided on a local spot where the island patrons of the club were not so keen on tourists so the club scene dried up pretty fast for us there. We we're back on the ship shortly after midnight.

Our final day on-board was spent working out at the gym, purchasing cruise ship souvenirs and playing table tennis (ping pong). The competition was serious. You did not go to the table unless you were ready to slam or be slammed on.

All and all I had a memorable time in the Bahamas. So good that I went back again later that year and did just about the same thing. The service was excellent and the staff was very nice. Couples that we did not know sent us drinks from across the bar for no reason at all. It was something out of a movie for me. We met people of different nationalities and from different states. At the end of the cruise we did the cursory telephone number exchanges but, of course, no one ever called. That's just the way it is. It was an awe-inspiring trip.


Send me your travel stories. Whether your trip was a nightmare or a weekend in the oasis I would love to publish it. Please send me an email to amillionmorelikeme@live.com

And Happy Cruising!